BILL NUMBER: SB 571	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 3, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JULY 7, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JUNE 21, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MAY 6, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Alarcon
   (Principal coauthor:  Senator Rainey)
   (Coauthor:  Assembly Member Alquist)

                        FEBRUARY 23, 1999

   An act to amend Section 18735 of the Education Code, relating to
family literacy, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring the
urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 571, as amended, Alarcon.  Families for Literacy Program.
   Existing law establishes the Families for Literacy Program to
provide funding for eligible public libraries with the purpose of
preventing illiteracy through coordinated literacy and preliteracy
services to families by providing reading preparation services for
young children in public library settings, instructing parents in
reading to their children, and by providing technical assistance,
parent support, and any necessary resources and materials.
   This bill would  provide that, as a principal component, the
program may provide training or assistance for parents who have no or
minimal reading skills to enable them to learn to read so that they
will be able to help their children learn to read, including services
specifically designed for parents for whom English is not their
primary language.
   This bill would  provide that the program, in designing or
updating its program content, may take into consideration the
literacy requirements for children in kindergarten and grades 1 to
12, inclusive, and may provide a program that will facilitate and
prepare children for a successful transition into formal education.
   This bill would appropriate  $750,000  
$375,000  from the General Fund to the California State Library
for purposes of the Families for Literacy Program.
   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as
an urgency statute.
   Vote:  2/3.  Appropriation:  yes.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 18735 of the Education Code is amended to read:

   18735.  (a) There is hereby created the Families for Literacy
Program, a library services program with the purpose of preventing
illiteracy through coordinated literacy and preliteracy services to
families that include illiterate adults and young children.  The
program shall provide reading preparation services for young children
in public library settings and shall instruct parents in reading to
their children.  In addition, the program shall provide technical
assistance, parent support, and any resources and materials necessary
for its implementation.
   (b) The Families for Literacy Program may have as a principal
component the provision of training or assistance for parents who
have no or minimal reading skills, to enable them to learn to read so
that they will be able to help their children learn to read.  This
component may also include services specifically designed for parents
for whom English is not their primary language.
   (c) In designing or updating its program content, the Families for
Literacy Program may take into consideration the literacy
requirements for children in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12,
inclusive, and may provide a program that will facilitate and prepare
children for a successful transition into formal education.
  SEC. 2.  The sum of  seven hundred fifty thousand dollars
($750,000)   three hundred seventy-five thousand dollars
($375,000)  is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the
California State Library for purposes of the Families for Literacy
Program created by Section 18735 of the Education Code.
  SEC. 3.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect.  The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order to improve the literacy skills of parents to enable them
to assist in their children's education and thereby enhance the
welfare of these families, it is necessary for this act to take
effect immediately.